Avatar: The Last Airbender. Whether you’ve seen it on tv, watched the questionable film adaptation, or just seen a gif floating on your Facebook wall, everyone more or less knows what’s going to be analyzed. For those who have never heard of it, let me say, here’s a little introduction:
Avatar – La leggenda di Aang (Avatar: The Last Airbender) is an American cartoon made up of three seasons and a post production tv film, on air from 2005 – 2008 on Nickelodeon. In Italy, the series hit airwaves between 2005 through 2010.
The animated series, set in a world with a population divided into four nations corresponding to the four elements (water, earth, air and fire), is characterized by an Asian style and enriched through the use of fantastical elements. The plot follows the actions of Aang, an Avatar who is given the task to pacify the four nations thanks to his ability to juggle everyone and the four elements. His friends accompany him on his adventures.
[Source: Wikipedia]
The analysis of this show could be long and varied, but we’ll concentrate on how this animated cartoon is incredibly and wonderfully Bossy. I ask that while you read this article to remember that Avatar started eleven years ago and that the show was made for children, but it also captured the attention of adolescents and adults for many reasons.
First of all: the setting. Avatar proposes a topic theme, that of domination of the elements, in a world influenced by cultures that aren’t always seen in products for little kids (unless you watch anime). The avatar itself derives from the Hindu religion which preaches reincarnation; a novel idea for the young minds principally used to Christianity. We can also get closer to cultures and civilizations far from the range of canonic entertainment for kids: the Shaolin monks, the Inuit tribes, ancient China and Japan. What’s more interesting than a series that features unknown and fascinating lands?
Second point: ethnicity. Maybe you raised an eyebrow, and it’s understandable. Now, however, reflect for a moment. What color skin do the protagonists usually have, whether it be a film, television show, or piece of literature (obviously coming from “western” countries)? White, exactly. Well, in Avatar, two of the main characters have dark skin. Darker than the bad guys. Quite modern for a product from 2005, especially if we think that little before, the idea of an African American Hermione Granger hadn’t crossed the mind of anyone, right?
Third point: the roles. If you believe that men are always fighting while the women are small and submissive, well, think again! The women in Avatar, are strong and opinionated characters, with strengths and weaknesses of their own. The male roles are not stereotypical and the families are not preset. Big brothers get overshadowed by their younger sisters, women and young girls whose characters aren’t easily understood or simplistic, little kids, parents present the lives of their children and others that aren’t, as well as families that are close knit and those that are on the verge of collapse. They aren’t stereotypes, but people. They aren’t contrived; they’re both real and true.
Fourth point: the women. While spoken of briefly, they merit a further in depth analysis as related to this program. Before going forward, however, it is necessary to remind everyone that with feminism, we mean the quest for equality between both sexes, not the predominance of women. In this series you will find female characters of all kinds, but they all have one thing in common: the fight. These women fight, whether it be against others or against themselves, physically or psychologically, actively or passively, every woman is a warrior. At times it will be the male characters themselves to realize that they can learn a lot from these women.
Fifth point: physical impairment. There are different characters who are physically impaired, or handicapped, (additionally there is also representation of those dealing with internalized issues), which, despite the inevitable issues that come up they make their apparent malus into a point of strength. A factor that makes them able to go forward in their tasks or that makes them that much stronger than other people, their disabilities overcome in such a way that their existence is often forgotten by those around them. This serves as a welcome wakeup call to all those charmers who have the gall to make fun of someone who happens to have a physical condition different than their own.
Sixth and final point: nature. In Avatar, an aspect that must be recognized is the relationship with the environment. . After all, domination over the elements comes from the surroundings, and humans must understand it, become part of it, and allow it to flow through their bodies. During the series there are sensitizations to the environment that never seem banal or forced.
In conclusion, the key word describing this series is respect. Avatar shows an innovative product from multiple points of view. Remember the year this show was aired (2005) and today we stand in protest, with political parties rooted in racist behaviors, no respect towards other cultures, and cast perplexed looks upon the site of a Disney princess of color.
